1 dead, 1 seriously injured in Kennedy Expressway motorcycle crash

A 43-year-old man died and his friend was injured when their motorcycles crashed on the outbound Kennedy Expressway before midnight Thursday.

Authorities say Thomas Winkelman of Chicago went to the ground while operating a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle about 11:40 p.m. near Canfield Avenue.

Preliminary reports said Winkelman and a 22-year-old driver of a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle were northbound on I-90 at Canfield when the Harley Davidson, for unknown reasons, lost control and tipped over, according to an Illinois State police news release.

Police say he may have been trying to avoid another vehicle. The driver of the Kawasaki struck the Harley Davidson before crashing, police said.

Both motorcyclists were licensed and insured and police said they didn’t exhibit reckless behavior prior to the crash.

Charges aren’t expected against the surviving motorcyclist who was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in serious condition, police said.

Winkelman was not wearing a helmet and it was unclear if the other motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, police said.

Police closed the outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway for 5 hours overnight and opened the lanes before 5 a.m.